DLTK's Crafts for Kids
Pioneer Schools. A letter from
a student

October 1st, 1901

Hello,

My name is Amanda. I just started Grade 2 at the school in our
town. My older brother, Billy, is in Grade 6 and my younger sister, Sarah,
is just starting Kindergarten.

My teacher asked us to write a note to students 100 years from now to tell
them what school is like now and to try to imagine what it will be like for
them. Father thinks people will have given up on school by then -- he
thinks school is a big waste of time. But I think there might still be
schools. There might even be two or three teachers in a school instead of
just one!

My brothers and sisters all go to the same school -- we share one big
classroom. Miss Matheson is the teacher. She teaches all the kids in
our community and from the farms nearby. Right now Miss Matheson is living
at the Durkson's house. But next month it will be our turn to board
her. I'm very excited about having her move in with us. She's very
pretty and so smart! I wonder if one day parents will build the teacher
her own house?

Miss Matheson teaches everyone from Kindergarten to Grade 12. But there
aren't very many students in the higher grades. Billy is in Grade 6
now. Father says this will be his last year in school. He needs
Billy to help more on the farm next year. Billy already misses school
around harvest time. I go to school most of the time, except when I have
to help mom go to market to sell our eggs. I think that in 100 years,
there will be special days off so that kids can help sell eggs and won't have to
miss class to do it.

I like school -- most of the time. We practice writing, reading
and arithmetic. We use small chalkboards to practice math and we
use pens that we dip in ink to practice writing. I like writing
with the pen, but I hate when the boys dip my hair in the ink! If
there are still schools in 100 years, I'm sure the boys will still be
dipping the girls' hair in ink.

We have to buy our own books and Father says it's too expensive to buy new
ones each year. I always have to use Billy's old books. He took
pretty good care of them -- Father would have taken him behind the wood shed if
he hadn't! But it would still be nice to have a new book, just
once.

It's chilly this morning. We have a big stove at the front of the room
to keep the class warm in the winter, but we don't get any wood for it until
it's cold all day. In the autumn we have to wear our sweaters in the
mornings until the sun warms things up. I think in 100 years, they'll be
able to start the stove in autumn so their fingers won't be so cold in the
mornings.

I made our lunches today. Sarah helped. She liked packing
the old syrup buckets full of the sandwiches I made. I wonder if
in 100 years, kids will still bring their lunches to school in old syrup
buckets? Maybe they'll get brand new ones instead.

Billy never has time to eat his lunch. He's too busy taking care of his
horse. He's so lucky to be able to ride to school. Sarah and I have
to walk. I know it's only one mile and that lots of kids have to walk
farther, but it would still be fun to ride a horse. I think in 100 years
all of the kids will have their own horses and be able to ride to school -- even
the girls.

It's almost time for recess, so I'm going to finish my note now. One
thing's for sure, if there's still school in 100 years there will still be
recess!